Method of manufacturing glass tombstones, &amp;c.



. Patented Aug. |2,, I902. J. [1. SHAFFER. METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GLASSTOMBSTONES, 81.0.

(Application filed Sepia. 16, 1901.)

- No Model.)

' Artomeyq moi-mums" WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES mm OFFICE.

JOIIN Q. SHAFFER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,863, dated. August12, 1902.

Application filed September 16,1901. Serial No. 751584. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. SHAFFER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinMethods of Manufacturing Glass Tombstones and the Like; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to methods of manufacturing glass tombstones,cornerstones, memorial tablets, and the like, and has for its object theprovision of the novel method of inclosing in large and heavy masses ofglass plates or tablets of the same material bearing portraits,inscriptions, dates, names, or other wording or designs which it isdesired to perpetuate.

My invention consists in the novel method of manufacture hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated theapparatus for carrying my method of manufacture into effect and havealso illustrated an article made according to such method, Figure 1 is avertical sectional view taken diagonally of the lower part of a compoundmold and the bottom plate on which said mold rests with an inscribedglass plate in position therein and a mass of glass which has beenpoured upon the top of such plate. Fig. 2 is a similar view with themold turned over. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the same withthe upper part of the compound mold in position upon the lower part andinclosing a mass of glass which has been poured upon the top of the massof glass formed in the lower part and the inscribed glass plate afterthe lower mold and its contents have been reversed in position. Fig. Ais a Vertical sectional view of the upper and lower parts of the mold,showing the manner of opening the same to permit of the removal of theglass. Fig. 5 isa top View of the mold, and Fig. (3 is a'perspectiveView of the completed article forming part of a tombstone.

In carrying my method into effect with the novel apparatus illustrated.in the drawings I proceed as follows: I provide a compound mold composedof the lower part A and the upper part B, both of which are sectionalmolds,being each composed of sections hinged together and locked whenclosed by means of the interlocking lugs and pin commonly used onsectional molds of the ordinary kind. The upper and lower parts of mycompound mold are of the same size interiorly, and the upper part B whenin position for the casting op eration rests upon the lower part, beingmaintained in its proper relation thereto by pins 0 C, which embrace thesides of the lower part A. The lower part A of the mold rests on abottom plate D, and the upper and lower parts are provided with handlesa a and b b, respectively, for convenience in handling. Interlockinglugs c c and a pin (I serve to keep the lower part A closed, whilesimilar lugs e e and a pin f serve a like purpose on the upper mold. Theupper and lower parts A and B of the mold are formed each in twosections, being hinged at the corners diagonally opposite theinterlockinglugs and pins.

My novel method of manufacture is effected in the following manner: Aplate of glass G is prepared by having the inscription, portrait,design, or other matter which it is desired to preserve imprinted on itssurface in any desired or known mannersuch, for instance, as thewell-known photoprinting process and burned in, so as not to be affectedby the heat to which it is subsequently subjected. The plate so preparedis laid in the lower part A of the mold, face up, and a mass of glassHis then poured upon the plate. The glass which is poured upon the platebeing very soft will of course touch the plate at one point and thenspread over its surface and in so spreading will displace the air incontact with the plate and come into perfect contact with every part ofits surface, thus preventing the formation of bubbles between thesurface of plate and the glass which has been poured upon it. Aftersufficient glass has been castinto the lower part A to quite fill thesame and form the mass which is shown at H in the drawings the lowerpart A of the mold, with its contents, is turned over, the mass of glassI-I being now beneath the plate G and the back of the latter exposed atthe top of the mold. The upper part B of the mold is now placed inposition on the lower part A, and a second mass of glass is poured intothe part B of the mold and upon the back of the plate G, which is nowuppermost The mass of glass which is formed in the mold part B is shownat I in the drawings and, being cast upon the plate G while in a moltencondition, welds to said plate and to the portion of the mass H whichextends outside the plate, and the two masses of glass and the platebecome a solid integral body. After the casting operation has beenperformed as described the glass is allowed to harden sufficiently tostand without spreading, and the pins (1 andf being drawn out of thelugs o c and e e the two parts A B of the mold are opened and removed,leaving the completed block of glass standing on the bottom plate. Theannealing of the glass is effected in the usual manner, and after it hasbeen annealed it is cut and polished and may, if desired, be etched orotherwise ornamented. The side of the block next the inscription ordesign will, by preference, be highly polished, so as to leaveinscription or whatever may have been imprinted on the plate exposed toview behind the layer ofperfectly transparent glass.

By the casting method described I am enabled to form an absolutely solidmass of perfectly transparent glass absolutely devoid of air-bubbles,having a design or inscription fixed in the body of the glass and aspermanent in character as the glass itself.

In preparing the plate of glass G, upon which the inscription, portrait,or other matter is imprinted, it will of course be understood that theplate of glass can be of any desired color, a suitable artistic effectbeing produced by means of black letters on a white ground.

The two molten masses of glass which are cast around and upon the platemaybe either clear or colored glass of the same or different colors, orthe glass at the back of the inscription or other matter may be opaque,while that in front is transparent, and other variations in the matterof coloring or ornament= ing the glass may be practiced, according tothe taste or fancy of the manufacturer.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have shown the block of glass, prepared inthe manner hereinbefore described, in position as one of the sections ofa tombstone; but there are many other uses to which blocks of glass withinelosed inscriptions or designs may be applied-for instance, asmemorial tablets, cor-.

her-stones, bases for statuary, &;c.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. The method of manufacturing ablock of glass, having an inclosed imprint or design, consisting incasting a mass of glass upon the face of a plate of glass, bearing thedesign or imprint, then casting a second mass of glass upon the back ofthe same.

2. The method of manufacturing solid sections of glass with an inclosedinscription or the like consisting in placing a plate of glass imprintedwith the desired matter within and at the bottom of the mold, castingglass within the mold upon top of the plate, then reversing the positionof the mass so cast, and then casting a second mass within another moldand upon the other side of the plate.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Q. SHAFFER.

Witnesses:

A. A. CoNNoLLY, MARY M. IIEDDEN.

